The Color Purple - Alice Walker [32]
These the first ones, say Shug. They postmark right here.
DEAR CELIE, THE FIRST LETTER SAY,
You’ve got to fight and get away from Albert. He ain’t no good.
When I left you all’s house, walking, he followed me on his horse. When we was well out of sight of the house he caught up with me and started trying to talk. You know how he do, You sure is looking fine, Miss Nettie, and stuff like that. I tried to ignore him and walk faster, but my bundles was heavy and the sun was hot. After while I had to rest, and that’s when he got down from his horse and started to try to kiss me, and drag me back in the woods.
Well, I started to fight him, and with God’s help, I hurt him bad enough to make him let me alone. But he was some mad. He said because of what I’d done I’d never hear from you again, and you would never hear from me.
I was so mad myself I was shaking.
Anyhow, I got a ride into town on somebody’s wagon. And that same somebody pointed me in the direction of the Reverend Mr. ____’s place. And what was my surprise when a little girl opened the door and she had your eyes set in your face.
love, Nettie
NEXT ONE SAID,
Dear Celie,
I keep thinking it’s too soon to look for a letter from you. And I know how busy you is with all Mr. ____’ s children. But I miss you so much. Please write to me, soon as you have a chance. Every day I think about you. Every minute.
The lady you met in town is name Corrine. The little girl’s name is Olivia. The husband’s name is Samuel. The little boy’s name is Adam. They are sanctified religious and very good to me. They live in a nice house next to the church where Samuel preaches, and we spend a lot of time on church business. I say “we” because they always try to include me in everything they do, so I don’t feel so left out and alone.
But God, I miss you, Celie. I think about the time you laid yourself down for me. I love you with all my heart,
Your sister, Nettie
NEXT ONE SAY,
Dear Celie,
By now I am almost crazy. I think Albert told me the truth, and that he is not giving you my letters. The only person I can think of who could help us out is Pa, but I don’t want him to know where I am.
I asked Samuel if he would visit you and Mr. ____, just to see how you are. But he says he can’t risk putting himself between man and wife, especially when he don’t know them. And I felt bad for having to ask him, he and Corrine have been so nice to me. But my heart is breaking. It is breaking because I can not find any work in this town, and I will have to leave. After I leave, what will happen to us? How will we ever know what is going on?
Corrine and Samuel and the children are part of a group of people called Missionaries, of the American and African Missionary Society. They have ministered to the Indians out west and are ministering to the poor of this town. All in preparation for the work they feel they were born for, missionary work in Africa.
I dread parting from them because in the short time we’ve been together they’ve been like family to me. Like family might have been, I mean.
Write if you can. Here are some stamps.
love, Nettie
NEXT ONE, FAT, DATED TWO MONTHS LATER, SAY,
Dear Celie,
I wrote a letter to you almost every day on the ship coming to Africa. But by the time we docked I was so down, I tore them into little pieces and dropped them into the water. Albert is not going to let you have my letters and so what use is there in writing them. That’s the way I felt when I tore them up and sent them to you on the waves. But now I feel different.
I remember one time you said your life made you feel so ashamed you couldn’t even talk about it to God, you had to write it, bad as you thought your writing was. Well, now I know what you meant. And whether God will read letters or no, I know you will go on writing them; which is guidance enough for me. Anyway, when I don’t write to you I feel as bad as I do when I don’t pray, locked up in myself and choking on my own heart. I am so lonely, Celie.
The reason I am in Africa is because one of the missionaries